Filipino Food Recipes, Oxtail Kare Kare with Peanut Sauce.

Filipino food recipes are not only pleasing to the eye, but they also contain a range of colorful vegetables, inexpensive cuts of meat, uniquely flavored sauces, and are of course, delicious. Kare-Kare is usually prepared using oxtails which are served in a mouth watering peanut sauce. This dish is often served on special occasions or family gatherings in the Philippines and there are local variations as to how the dish is served and prepared. Tripe is sometimes included in oxtail Kare-Kare and I have included a version using tripe in the dish, at the end of recipe.

Oxtails are really quite inexpensive and when cooked correctly are not only tender, but contain a surprising amount of meat. I always add a pinch of cayenne and a couple of shots of Tobasco when I make Kare-Kare, as this gives the dish a bit off fire. I recommend using a smooth, good quality peanut butter sauce for this recipe also as it makes a difference to the taste and texture of the sauce.

Ingredients for oxtail Kare-Kare.

1Ib of beef oxtail, which has been chopped into slices around 2" thick.

1 medium sized onion,

1/2 a head of Bok Choy, roughly chopped.

I eggplant, sliced into 2" pieces.

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped.

1/2lb of green beans, trimmed.

3 heaped tablespoons of tomato puree.

3 heaped tablespoons of peanut butter.

Good pinch of cayenne pepper and a couple of shots of Tobasco (optional)

Good pinch of salt and pepper.

How to prepare Oxtail Kare-Kare.

• Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the oxtail, onion, salt, pepper and Cayenne, if using.
• Simmer the oxtail over a medium heat, occasionally removing any froth that forms at the top of the water, for approximately 3 hours, or until the oxtail is tender.
• After three hours the water will have reduced a little, ensure there is enough water to cook the vegetables in. Add the green beans, egg plant, Bok Choy, garlic, tomato puree and Tobasco. Add a little more water as necessary.
• Simmer over a medium heat for about 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked to taste.
• Using a cup, take some of the broth mixture and in a small bowl, stir in the peanut butter. Blend until smooth and then return the mixture to the pan.
• Bring to the boil, stirring for around 4-5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
• Serve on a bed of rice.

To include tripe in the dish, you will need 1lb of beef tripe.

• While the oxtails are simmering, bring a large pan of water to the boil.
• Add the tripe and simmer over a medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the pan, and cut into slices of around 2" thick and 2" long.
• Add to the pan of oxtail and cook as above.